Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table this evening courtesy of a one-sided 5-0 win over relegated Huddersfield Town at Anfield.
The hosts set the tone after just 15 seconds when Naby Keita scored the club's fastest ever Premier League goal, and it was 3-0 before half time courtesy of goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Mane and Salah then doubled their individual tallies in the second half to complete the rout, putting the pressure back on Manchester City ahead of their trip to face Burnley on Sunday.
Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Huddersfield Town at Anfield!
Friday night games always have a special feel about them, and tonight could see Liverpool return to the top of the table for an incredible 29th change of leadership in this remarkable title race. Ultimately things are out of their hands, though, and at this stage all they can do is continue winning to keep the pressure on Manchester City. Huddersfield, for their part, are preparing for life in the Championship next season and if they were to get anything at all from tonight's match then it would be one of the biggest shocks of the season.
Kickoff is in just five minutes' time, so let's have a quick look at the team news before we get underway...
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Sturridge, Mane
SUBS: Mignolet, Gomez, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri, Origi, Matip
HUDDERSFIELD STARTING XI: Lossl; Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm; Grant, Bacuna, Stankovic, Hogg, Mbenza; Mounie
SUBS: Kachunga, Pritchard, Diakhaby, Coleman, Lowe, Zanka, Daly
KICKOFF: Here we go! After a period of silence in memory of the great Tommy Smith, Huddersfield get us underway!
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 HUDDERSFIELD (NABY KEITA)
© Reuters
GOAL! How is that for a response to Man City's midweek win?! Just 15 seconds are on the clock and already Liverpool have the lead! Stankovic is caught in possession deep inside his own half and Salah lays the ball through for Keita, who drags his finish in off the post to give Liverpool the dream start!
SAVE! Almost a second for Liverpool after just two minutes! Salah cuts inside and works space to shoot, but his drive is straight at the keeper, who parries it up into the air before it is eventually dealt with for good.
CHANCE! Suddenly Huddersfield have a chance to get a goal back in a frenetic start to this match! Stankovic has the opportunity to redeem himself when he is found in space inside the area, but his shot is tame and deflects off Lovren before rippling the side-netting.
Here is that early goal for Liverpool, which is their 100th of the season across all competitions...
🕒 GOAL!! 🕒
Blink and you'll miss it - Naby Keita puts Liverpool 1-0 up after just 15 seconds!
📺 Watch it live on Sky Sports Premier League or follow the blog for live updates and in-game clips https://t.co/J1qr8acKqG pic.twitter.com/WZCZJMs1dQ— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 26, 2019
CHANCE! Another half-chance for the visitors as they are given space on the right again before finding Mbenza in space inside the area - in a similar position to Stankovic was. It is another poor finish, though, and Can Dijk clears it before it can test Alisson.
Huddersfield have responded well to that earliest of setbacks, but they have had two corners already and both have been utterly dreadful.
That, by the way, was Liverpool's fastest ever goal in the Premier League and one of the fastest by any team - although Shane Long broke that record recently, of course.
It looked ominous for Huddersfield when Liverpool scored one after 15 seconds and then had another chance, but it is the visitors who have actually been on top since then. They have responded really well.
Indeed, in the last 10 minutes only 6% of the play has come in Huddersfield's third, whereas 36% has come in Liverpool's. The hosts certainly wouldn't have expected this pattern!
SHOT! Liverpool do break forward now as Salah exchanges passes with Henderson before darting forward. He turns down the chance to find Henderson on the overlap again and eventually toe-pokes it towards goal, but it goes well wide.
CHANCE! Liverpool win a corner from a badly miscued Lossl kick and Alexander-Arnold swings it in for Van Dijk, who gets his head to it but cannot keep his effort down.
Better from Liverpool now as they start to settle into the game and see more of the ball inside the Huddersfield half. They perhaps allowed a bit of complacency to creep in after such an early goal.
This is much more like what we expected to see tonight - Liverpool knocking the ball around inside the Huddersfield half and probing for a way through.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 HUDDERSFIELD (SADIO MANE)
© Reuters
GOAL! Liverpool double their advantage midway through the first half as Van Dijk carries the ball out of defence before knocking the ball out wide for Robertson. The full-back swings a trademark cross into the middle, and Mane is between the defenders to nod home for his 19th Premier League goal of the season!
This scoreline is actually quite harsh on Huddersfield, but that second goal was far too easy for Liverpool and it is now shaping up to be a long night for the Terriers.
This scoreline is actually quite harsh on Huddersfield, but that second goal was far too easy for Liverpool and it is now shaping up to be a long night for the Terriers.
Liverpool are in complete control of this contest now. That second goal seems to have knocked what little stuffing there was left in Huddersfield and I wouldn't be surprised to see more before the break.
SHOT! Salah tries to get in on the act as he cuts inside from the right flank before letting fly, but his shot is always rising and flies well off target.
SHOT! Sturridge then picks out almost exactly the same seat as Salah after collecting the ball from the Egyptian and shooting from around 25 yards out. Again, Lossl untroubled.
A reminder that this result would send Liverpool back to the top of the table until at least Sunday, when Man City face Burnley at Turf Moor - a difficult game but again one you would expect Pep Guardiola's side to win.
It is just pass after pass for Liverpool right now. They have pinned Huddersfield right back into their own half and the visitors cannot get out as they were in the opening 20 minutes at the moment.
Here is that second Liverpool goal as Mane moves into a four-way tie in the Golden Boot race...
GOAL!
Sadio Mane rises to nod home Andy Robertson's cross and Liverpool lead Huddersfield 2-0 at Anfield!
📺 Watch it live on Sky Sports Premier League or follow the blog for live updates and in-game clips https://t.co/J1qr8acKqG pic.twitter.com/jdlBqmBauF— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 26, 2019
Concern for Smith here as Robertson clips the heel of the Huddersfield man accidentally, but he should be fine to continue.
A landmark goal for Liverpool's front three too - not as goal-laden as last season, of course, but still a fantastic return...
Mane x @MoSalah x Bobby = 5️⃣0️⃣ @premierleague goals this season!
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/qPYd2VgGxC— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 26, 2019
Huddersfield have avoided any further damage - and more or less any further scares - since that second goal, but their attacking threat is almost non-existent now. It is so hard for the visitors to make an impression on the game here.
CHANCE! Liverpool perhaps should have a third just before half time as Mane releases Robertson, whose low ball into the box almost finds Salah. Salah misses it and the defender gets there to poke it as far as Henderson, who can only blaze his finish well over when he should have done better.
Important interception from Lovren as he slides in to cut out a low cross into the box following a good move from Huddersfield. Another moment of encouragement for the visitors.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 HUDDERSFIELD (MOHAMED SALAH)
© Reuters
GOAL! Liverpool do get their third on the stroke of half time as Alexander-Arnold clips a long pass forward for Salah, who beats Lossl to the ball and lifts it over the keeper to move onto 20 league goals for the season - the first player to reach that landmark!
HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 3-0 HUDDERSFIELD
It is game over by half time at Anfield as Liverpool go into the break with a 3-0 win over Huddersfield, and barring a quite remarkable turn of events the hosts will be returning to the top of the Premier League table tonight. Despite the size of their lead Liverpool haven't had things all their own way during the opening 45 minutes, but they have provided the moments of quality when it matters and certainly deserve to be in front.
Liverpool's goals have been evenly spread out throughout the half, with one at the start, one at the middle and one right at the very end. Indeed, the one at the start was Liverpool's fastest ever Premier League strike, with Naby Keita catching Stankovic in possession before getting the ball back from Salah and picking out the bottom corner - all after only 15 seconds.
Liverpool's second goal came after 23 minutes as Mane got in on the act to temporarily move level on goals with Mo Salah on 19 in the league this season. It was Van Dijk and Robertson who set it up, though, with the latter notching his 10th league assist of the campaign with the cross right on to Mane's head, leaving the winger with a relatively simple glancing header.
Salah soon moved back ahead of Mane in the scoring stakes, though, effectively putting the game to bed with virtually the final action of the half. This time it was Alexander-Arnold who claimed the assist with a long pass forward to release Salah, who lifted his finish over Lossl for his 20th league goal of the campaign - the first player to reach that mark.
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half at Anfield!
Here is that third Liverpool goal, which made Salah only the third player after Suarez and Fowler to score 20 or more league goals in back-to-back seasons for the club...
GOAL!
Salah beats Lossl to an inviting ball over the top and dinks it into the net!
📺 Watch it live on Sky Sports Premier League or follow the blog for live updates and in-game clips https://t.co/J1qr8acKqG pic.twitter.com/N1CcIEMf2n— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 26, 2019
CHANCE! Chance for Liverpool to get a fourth as the ball is clipped over for Sturridge, but Mane is also there and the pair end up getting in each other's way a little. Mane still gets a shot away and perhaps should do better as he lifts his finish off target.
A moment of sheer panic inside Anfield here as Van Dijk goes down and stays down for a moment. The cheer that greets him getting to his feet just goes to show how important he is to this team.
CLOSE! Almost a gift for Huddersfield to pull a goal back as Lovren tries to clear the ball on the slide but only hits it away from Bacuna. That sends the ball bounces across goal and Grant is inches away from reaching it for what would have been a simple finish. Moments later Mounie is played through on goal, but he takes far too long over his finish and allows Keita to get back in and make the challenge.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Liverpool now have the ball in the back of the net at the other end, but the flag is raised for offside. Alexander-Arnold slides a fine cross into the box and Sturridge finishes it well, but the replay shows that he had just strayed.
SAVE! It is end-to-end stuff at the moment! Bacuna tries his luck from range and strikes the ball really well, but Alisson is there to parry it away.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was warming up at half time and has just gone for a run-out now too. He could make his first appearance in more than a year tonight with the game already effectively over as a contest.
Poor from Sturridge here as he puts his head down and holds on to the ball for far too long when he had players racing clear either side of him.
SHOT! Keita drives forward with the ball and decides to go for goal himself, but he cuts across it and the ball swings a couple of yards wide.
CLOSE! Oh my word, what a goal this would have been! It is Gazza-esque from Salah as he flicks it over one defender, away from another and then unleashes a superb volley towards the top corner. For a moment it looks like it is flying in, but it ripples the side-netting on its way behind.
Goal difference could come into this title race in the unlikely event that there are dropped points, but Liverpool do not seem too urgent to push for more here. They are happy to just patiently probe for a way through.
HUDDERSFIELD SUB: Huddersfield make their first change of the night as Chris Lowe replaces Mounie.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-0 HUDDERSFIELD (SADIO MANE)
GOAL! Mane has his second of the night and his 20th Premier League goal of the season! It is another header from the Senegal international as he gets onto the end of Henderson's cross, planting his finish across goal and into the far corner. Two Liverpool players now lead the Golden Boot race!
This has been a very confident response from Liverpool to that hammer blow of a result on Wednesday when Man City beat United at Old Trafford. It was always likely to be a perfect fixture for them considering Huddersfield's plight, and Liverpool have taken full advantage.
It looks as though Oxlade-Chamberlain might get a bit of game time for Liverpool too in this final 20 minutes!
Liverpool are by no means hanging back and seeing this game out considering they have Barcelona on Wednesday. There will be changes shortly, but those on the field are still giving their all.
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Oxlade-Chamberlain gets a huge reception and has an even bigger smile on his face as he returns after more than a year out. Xherdan Shaqiri is also on as Sturridge and Wijnaldum make way.
CHANCE! This would have capped the night off! Salah prods a pass through to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who twists and turns inside the box to create space to shoot but then sees his finish saved by Lossl!
OFF THE POST! What a chance for Mane to complete a hat-trick of headers! Again it comes via a cross from the right and Mane has peeled off at the back post to leave himself completely unmarked. The winger has the goal gaping and it is perhaps his best chance of the three, but he plants it against the post!
CHANCE! The chances are coming thick and fast for Liverpool now. The latest sees Salah's free kick go all the way through to Lovren, who chests it down but then fires well off target.
HUDDERSFIELD SUB: Change for the visitors here as Stankovic is replaced by Alex Pritchard.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 5-0 HUDDERSFIELD (MOHAMED SALAH)
GOAL! Liverpool make it five and it is Liverpool history for Salah as he scores his 69th goal in his first 100 appearances for the club - the best tally in their illustrious history! Robertson is again the creator down the left, latching on to Shaqiri's through-ball before playing a simple low cross into the box for Salah to finish.
Salah and Mane are both on hat-tricks now and they are both queuing up at the back post to try to nod the latest cross home, but Smith gets between them and puts it behind for a corner.
HUDDERSFIELD SUB: A third and final change for Huddersfield sees Elias Kachunga replace Mbenza.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool also make their final switch as Joe Gomez replaces Alexander-Arnold.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.
CHANCE! Salah is desperate for that hat-trick and he drives forward before cutting back onto his left foot and going for goal from inside the area, but his strike is always rising and flies over.
SHOT! One late shot from Shaqiri as he tries to bend an effort into the far corner but fires it off target.
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 5-0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
As easy as you like for Liverpool as they regain top spot, showing no sign of a hangover from Man City's result in midweek as they brush relegated Huddersfield aside at Anfield.
The Reds could not have made a better start with Keita giving them the lead after only 15 seconds, and Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah then scored two goals apiece to complete a five-star rout and move ahead in the Golden Boot race. All eyes will again switch to Man City now as they face Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday!
Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Liverpool thrash Huddersfield to regain top spot, at least until Sunday. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
